Hampshire racing driver Dean Stoneman sues former doctor for £300,000 over claims he misdiagnosed his cancer

HAMPSHIRE motor racing ace Dean Stoneman is suing his former doctor for failing to spot he had cancer.

The champion driver is seeking damages of at least £300,000 claiming the misdiagnosis robbed him of a chance of stepping up to Formula 1 alongside the likes of fellow Brits Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Mr Stoneman was only told he had testicular cancer in 2011 – two years after symptoms first started to appear, according to a writ issued to the Royal Courts of Justice.

The 2010 Formula 2 champion, of Botley Road, Bishop’s Waltham, survived after undergoing extensive treatment and is now back behind the wheel competing again.

But Mr Stoneman, now 23, has issued a writ against Dr Paul Hemming, who was his GP at the Bishop’s Waltham Surgery, claiming he missed the warning signs of testicular cancer over a number of visits.

The claim, which has been issued to the Royal Courts of Justice in London, states Mr Stoneman suffered a “serious impairment of his motor racing career” as a result of his cancer going undetected and subsequent treatment.

Dean Stoneman celebrates a victory

The writ claims Mr Stoneman would still have enjoyed a successful career in motorsport and only experience temporary disruption if his condition was treated earlier.

It states his severe illness and symptoms from chemotherapy treatment following his diagnosis in 2011 “substantially delayed” his career and “impaired” his ability to return to high level motor racing.

According to the claim, Mr Stoneman first attended the practice in January 2009 and was referred for an ultrasound investigation, which revealed he had epididymal cysts on his testicles.

He returned twice more during 2009 complaining of abdominal pain and chest and rib pain, while suffering reported testicular pain, the writ claims.

Mr Stoneman then saw Dr Hemming in May 2010 continuing to suffer from symptoms connected to testicular cancer but the document states he was told the condition was “quite common” among people his age, and made “no comment” about testicular symptoms.

Mr Stoneman’s cancer was only diagnosed in January 2011, the report states, after he saw a different GP.

He was referred to a consultant surgeon at Southampton Spire Hospital, who carried out ultrasound, scanning, and other investigations, which revealed advanced testicular cancer.

Mr Stoneman underwent successful chemotherapy treatment and is currently competing in the GP3 series.

However, the document claims that Mr Stoneman would have been able to return to motor racing in October 2010 following subsequent treatment if he was diagnosed earlier.

It reveals he had to undergo surgery and eight cycles of chemotherapy.

Mr Stoneman’s advisers said he was unable to comment due to the ongoing legal matters surrounding the case when approached by the Daily Echo.

Bishop’s Waltham Surgery said that Dr Hemming had since retired an declined to comment further. Dr Hemming was unavailable for comment.

Huey wrote:
Good luck dean, sounds like you had an incompetent doctor who didn't listen and failed to accurately diagnose.

no wonder the nhs is doomed ,another nail in the coffin , as if this familly needs anymore money ! when most cant even feed themselves properly. mason s eh ...

[quote][p][bold]Huey[/bold] wrote:
Good luck dean, sounds like you had an incompetent doctor who didn't listen and failed to accurately diagnose.[/p][/quote]no wonder the nhs is doomed ,another nail in the coffin , as if this familly needs anymore money ! when most cant even feed themselves properly. mason s eh ...noodlesnewman

Huey wrote:
Good luck dean, sounds like you had an incompetent doctor who didn't listen and failed to accurately diagnose.

no wonder the nhs is doomed ,another nail in the coffin , as if this familly needs anymore money ! when most cant even feed themselves properly. mason s eh ...

But he is suing a former GP, not the NHS or a hospital. GPs are not employed by the NHS, and GP practices are not owned or run by the NHS.

[quote][p][bold]noodlesnewman[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Huey[/bold] wrote:
Good luck dean, sounds like you had an incompetent doctor who didn't listen and failed to accurately diagnose.[/p][/quote]no wonder the nhs is doomed ,another nail in the coffin , as if this familly needs anymore money ! when most cant even feed themselves properly. mason s eh ...[/p][/quote]But he is suing a former GP, not the NHS or a hospital. GPs are not employed by the NHS, and GP practices are not owned or run by the NHS.Huey

Fair play to Dean, It doesnt matte how much money him or his family have!
This happens way to often and needs to stop! Especially when it comes to something as serious as cancer!

I hope he gets every penny and hopefully it will make these pig ignorant doctors more aware or the concequences if not diagnosed!

My doctors I have to wait 2 weeks to get an appointment.
Stupid!!

Good luck Dean!

Fair play to Dean, It doesnt matte how much money him or his family have!
This happens way to often and needs to stop! Especially when it comes to something as serious as cancer!
I hope he gets every penny and hopefully it will make these pig ignorant doctors more aware or the concequences if not diagnosed!
My doctors I have to wait 2 weeks to get an appointment.
Stupid!!
Good luck Dean!xxsushixx

I agree medicine is not an exact science but with all the training doctors have they should if they are not sure refer the patient to a consultant. I once had a lump, I went to see my GP she told me she didnt think it was anything to worry about but to be on the safe side she said she would refer me, I saw a consultant who did a biopsy, thankfully it was nothing to worry about but it could have been, I would much rather have that than to be just dismiised and something happen, surely if a GP isnt sure its better to err on the side of caution and refer you

I agree medicine is not an exact science but with all the training doctors have they should if they are not sure refer the patient to a consultant. I once had a lump, I went to see my GP she told me she didnt think it was anything to worry about but to be on the safe side she said she would refer me, I saw a consultant who did a biopsy, thankfully it was nothing to worry about but it could have been, I would much rather have that than to be just dismiised and something happen, surely if a GP isnt sure its better to err on the side of caution and refer yousparkster

Unfortunately GP’s are human like the rest of us so there are good & bad and they are not infallible regrettably.

Surely, if he had persistent symptoms and felt that he wasn’t getting the treatment he deserved then go and get a second opinion or pay for a private consultation if you can afford it, which it appears he could.

I’m glad the bloke’s recovered and he certainly has the right to sue, but given the fickle nature of motorsport I think the tenuous F1 link weakens his case…

Unfortunately GP’s are human like the rest of us so there are good & bad and they are not infallible regrettably.
Surely, if he had persistent symptoms and felt that he wasn’t getting the treatment he deserved then go and get a second opinion or pay for a private consultation if you can afford it, which it appears he could.
I’m glad the bloke’s recovered and he certainly has the right to sue, but given the fickle nature of motorsport I think the tenuous F1 link weakens his case…Powegian

I have had testicular cancer when I was a similar age. Two friends died at about the same time of testicular cancer. I was mis-diagnosed at first and it spread to my stomach. When it was identified I was treated back in the early 80's. My point is that I was very grateful to the Health Service for saving my life. It never occurred to me to sue anyone. It seems very sad to me that someone who still has opportunities to be sucessful is choosing to sue rather than to divert efforts into supporting the system which - at the end of the day - saved his life!
My name is Dean as well. Thankful for being alive and a monthly donor to Cancer Research.

I have had testicular cancer when I was a similar age. Two friends died at about the same time of testicular cancer. I was mis-diagnosed at first and it spread to my stomach. When it was identified I was treated back in the early 80's. My point is that I was very grateful to the Health Service for saving my life. It never occurred to me to sue anyone. It seems very sad to me that someone who still has opportunities to be sucessful is choosing to sue rather than to divert efforts into supporting the system which - at the end of the day - saved his life!
My name is Dean as well. Thankful for being alive and a monthly donor to Cancer Research.Grateful Dean

Steven Sutton managed to raise over 4 million pounds for cancer charities, perhaps Dean would consider donating his 'spoils' from the court case to testicular cancer research? After all, it was these doctors and surgeons who managed to save his life? Just an idea?

Steven Sutton managed to raise over 4 million pounds for cancer charities, perhaps Dean would consider donating his 'spoils' from the court case to testicular cancer research? After all, it was these doctors and surgeons who managed to save his life? Just an idea?jonno166